The Execution of Whites for Crimes against African Americans

The numbers of white and black murder victims are approximately equal numbers; however, why is it that 79 percent of the victims in cases resulting in executions since 1977 have been white? Similarly, in 2006, 3 of 24 white persons were executed for the murder of a black person; that may imply that white victims are considered more important by the criminal justice system (McElreath, 2012) . Do the few executions of whites for committing crimes against African Americans adequately demonstrate that the application of the death penalty is not arbitrary or discriminatory? Explain your answer.